How to Get an Apostille in Illinois

Educational information, not legal advice. Fees, addresses and processing times reflect the Illinois Secretary of State Index Department and can change. Confirm current details on the official ilsos.gov page before you mail anything.

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Who issues apostilles in Illinois?

Apostilles in Illinois are issued by the Secretary of State's Index Department, which keeps offices in Springfield and Chicago. A notary cannot issue an apostille; the notary's role is only to notarize the underlying document so the Secretary of State can authenticate that notary's commission. The office certifies a wide range of Illinois paperwork, including certified vital records, court documents, corporate filings, academic records and notarized personal documents. Government-issued records already carry an official signature and do not need extra notarization, while private documents such as a power of attorney or affidavit must be notarized by an Illinois notary first.

How much does an Illinois apostille cost?

An Illinois apostille costs $2 per certificate, which is among the lowest state fees in the country. Payment is by check or money order made out to "Secretary of State," and a single payment can cover several documents on one request, so you are not writing a separate check for each. That low state fee is worth keeping in mind when a service quotes you a flat rate, because most of what they charge is their own handling, not the state's. Fees can change, so verify the current amount on the official Secretary of State page before sending anything.

How long does an Illinois apostille take?

A mailed Illinois apostille is commonly processed in about 5 to 10 business days after the Index Department receives it, plus the mail time each way. If you can reach Springfield or Chicago, a walk-in is usually handled the same day over the counter while you wait, which is the fastest route. Timeframes shift during busy stretches, so add a buffer if a foreign deadline is fixed. Illinois does not offer an electronic apostille, so every request ends in a physical certificate attached to your paper document.

How do you get an apostille in Illinois, step by step?

You complete the application, submit the document with the $2 fee, and the Secretary of State returns it with the apostille attached. The route below is the standard process.

1. Check the document is Illinois's: issued or certified in Illinois, or notarized by an Illinois notary.
2. Notarize private documents first: a power of attorney or affidavit needs an Illinois notary before submission.
3. Complete the application: fill the Application for Authentication or Apostille and name the destination country.
4. Submit with payment: mail or walk in to the Index Department with the document, form, $2 per document and a return envelope.
5. Receive it: the office attaches the apostille and returns it, same day for walk-ins.

Can Illinois apostille an FBI background check?

No, Illinois cannot apostille an FBI background check, because it is a federal document authenticated by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. Sending a federal report to the Illinois Secretary of State is one of the most common errors, and it comes back unprocessed. The Index Department authenticates Illinois-issued or Illinois-notarized documents only, such as an Illinois birth certificate or a power of attorney signed before an Illinois notary. Anything issued by a federal agency, or signed by a federal official, belongs at the federal office instead.

By the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Illinois Secretary of State Index Department (Apostilles, ilsos.gov) and 5 ILCS 312/4-107. Verify the current cost and address directly with the office before filing.